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SUNY Downstate Tops Among NYC Hospitals for Avoiding Unnecessary Procedures

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Dec 31, 2021

Lown Institute Hospital Index Puts Downstate 1st in NYC, Ranked #2 Among all Hospitals in New York State

Brooklyn, NY – SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has been recognized in a nationwide study conducted by the Lown Institute ranking in the 99th percentile for avoiding wasteful, unnecessary medical procedures. Among the more than 3,100 hospitals evaluated in this study, SUNY Downstate ranks #1 among New York City hospitals, #2 among all hospitals in the state, and in the top 10 hospitals in the Northeast region.

“According to this study, every 80 seconds, a hospital in the U.S. delivers a low-value test or procedure to an older adult, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of harm. Here at SUNY Downstate, we pride ourselves on offering the best medical care to our community, which includes avoiding unnecessary procedures that may pose a risk,” said David Berger, M.D., MHCM, FACS, Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospital at Downstate at SUNY Downstate. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Lown Institute for our commitment to patients’ health. I applaud the members of our healthcare teams for their devotion to put patient care above all else and their continuous hard work to ensure the SUNY Downstate name is one of integrity, efficiency and success.

The 2021 Lown Institute Hospitals Index avoiding overuse metric uses data from the 100% Medicare claims database from January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018. The study measured 12 low-value services, four tests and eight procedures including arthroscopic knee surgery, hysterectomies, and spinal fusion/laminectomies. Hospitals’ overuse score for each service is based on the rate of overuse as well as the volume of overuse. The overuse composite ranking is based on all services, with more weight placed on the services that make up the larger share of overuse.

The Lown Institue is a nonpartisan think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health through research, convening experts, and sparking public debate to bridge the gap between existing public policy solutions and the care that Americans want and need. For more information on the Lown Institute study, Click Here.

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Contact: Dawn S. Walker
917.439.9666 | 347.533.2071
dawn.walker@downstate.edu

About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the borough's only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care. It is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City and Brooklyn's 2.6 million residents. University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) is Downstate's teaching hospital, backed by an outstanding medical school's expertise and world-class academic center research facilities. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties—many of them ranked as tops in their fields—comprise Downstate's staff.

In addition to high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis (kidney diseases)—and offering the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn, among many other distinctive programs—Downstate also sponsors a major learning center for young children with developmental disorders and disabilities. In addition to UHB, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at @sunydownstate.


About the Lown Institute:

Founded in 1973 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Bernard Lown, MD, developer of the defibrillator and cardioverter, the Lown Institute believes that a radically better system of health is possible and generates bold ideas towards that goal. The Lown Hospitals Index, a signature project of the Institute, is the first ranking to assess the social responsibility of U.S. hospitals by applying measures never used before like racial inclusivity, avoidance of overuse, and pay equity.